March 26|2008

Dear Jancy:  I'm a NYC copywriter with 15 years agency experience at creative shops. Won a few awards, did really well. But then I left for a few years to have kids. Now I want to get back in the game as a freelancer and I feel like I'm starting over again. Aside from contacting old CD's and my headhunter (who calls only twice a year with freelance work) how else can I get my name out there? Do I e-mail my work to creative recruiters at agencies? What's the best route for a freelancer to drum up work?

Getting freelance starts the same way as getting a full time job---get your work in front of a CD, preferably with you attached to it. Nothing beats a face to face. If your work is really good (and no CD wants to pay extra for so-so---we'll assume you're fantastic) any good CD will hope to see you---he/she needs you (most agencies run too lean so it's a boom time for freelancers in most markets). Every agency is a different challenge as far as what it takes to get that appointment. Call the CD's assistant and ask for her best advice. She of all people will know if the agency needs freelance and she is usually involved in getting in that freelance help.